Almond tree named &#39;Matan&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct almond variety of  Prunus dulcis  named ‘MATAN’, particularly characterized by self-fertile capability and production of high quality almond fruit with a large kernel.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(f) of the IsraeliPlant Breeders' Rights Application No. 4169/08 filed Oct. 29, 2008.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Prunus dulcis

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘MATAN’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of almondtree, botanically known as Prunus dulcis, synonymous with Prunusamygdalus Batsch., Amygdalus communis L., and Amygdalus dulcis Mill.,belongs to the Rosaceae family, and is hereinafter referred to by thevariety denomination ‘MATAN’.

The new Prunus dulcis ‘MATAN’ is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventors, Doron Holland, Irit Bar-Ya'akov,Kamel Hatib and Reuven Birger in Yizre'el Valley, Israel. The objectiveof the breeding program was to develop a new Prunus dulcis variety whichis self fertile and produces almond fruit, of high quality and with alarge kernel.

The new Prunus dulcis ‘MATAN’ originated from a cross made by theinventors in 2001 in Yizre'el Valley, Israel. The female or seed parentis the French, self-fertile Prunus dulcis variety designated Lauranne,(unpatented), and the male or pollen parent is the local Prunus dulcisvariety designated ‘Um El Fahem’ (unpatented). The new Prunus dulcis‘MATAN’ was selected by the inventors from the progeny of the statedcross in a controlled environment in 2005 in Yizre'el Valley, Israel.

Asexual propagation of the new Prunus dulcis ‘MATAN’ by grafting ontothe unpatented (Prunus persica (L.) batsch×Prunus amygdalus batschrootstock designated GF.677 was first performed in March of 2005 (twotrees) and then in February of 2006 (six trees) in the orchard locatedin Yizre'el Valley, Israel. Asexual propagation of the new Prunus dulcis‘MATAN’ has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for the new variety are firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of asexual propagation. The new varietyreproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘MATAN’ which in combination distinguishthis almond tree as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. self-fertile capability;    -   2. production of high quality almond fruit; and    -   3. large kernel of almond fruit.

In comparison to the parental varieties, ‘Lauranne’ (unpatented) and ‘UmEl Fahem’ (unpatented), ‘MATAN’ differs primarily in the traits listedin Table 1.

TABLE 1 Female Parent Male Parent New Variety ‘Lauranne’ ‘Um El Fahem’Trait ‘MATAN’ (unpatented) (unpatented) Self-fertilization Able AbleUnable Beginning of February March February Flowering Time of JulyAugust July Ripening Dry Fruit shell Semi-Hard, Hard, Complete SoftBreakable Taste Sweet Slightly Bitter Sweet

Among the many commercial varieties known to the present inventors, thevariety most similar to ‘MATAN’ is the female parent, ‘Laurane’, asdescribed in the foregoing Table 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Prunus dulcis ‘MATAN’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘MATAN’.

FIG. 1, taken on May, 13, 2009, shows a side-view perspective of afruit-bearing tree of ‘MATAN’, at four year old age.

FIG. 2, taken on April, 20, 2006, shows a close-up view of afruit-bearing tree of ‘MATAN’, at four year old age.

FIG. 3 shows different close-up images of typical dry fruit of ‘MATAN’.

FIG. 4 shows different close-up images of typical kernels of maturefruit of ‘MATAN’

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Prunus dulcis ‘MATAN’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype of the new variety may vary withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and daylength without any change in the genotype of the almond tree.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe trees of ‘MATAN’ as grownin Yizre'el Valley, Israel, in an open orchard under conditions whichclosely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Thetrees of ‘MATAN’ were planted mainly in clay grumusol (vertisol) soil atan elevation of about 100 meters above sea level, at latitude 32°42′N,longitude 35°11′E. Yizre'el Valley is characterized by a Mediterraneansubtropical climate, with an average annual rainfall of about 580 mmconcentrated from November through March. Mean diurnal minimumtemperature in January is 6° C. (43° F.), and mean diurnal maximumtemperature in July is 33° C. (91° F.). Fertilization of about 250 kg/haN and 300 kg/ha K is administered per year.

Unless otherwise stated, the detailed botanical description includesobservations, measurements and values based on four year old ‘MATAN’trees grown in Yizre'el Valley, Israel from 2006 to 2009. Quantifiedmeasurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from anumber of trees of ‘MATAN’. The measurements of any individual tree, orany group of trees, of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 1986 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under conditions of fullsunlight.

All of the trees of ‘MATAN’, insofar as they have been observed, havebeen identical in all the characteristics described below.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Prunus dulcis.-   Parentage:-   Female or seed parent: Prunus dulcis ‘Lauranne’ (unpatented)-   Male or pollen parent: Prunus dulcis ‘Um El Fahem’ (unpatented)-   Propagation: Grafting onto unpatented (Prunus persica×Prunus    amygdalus) rootstock designated GF.677.-   Growing conditions:-   Light intensities: Full sunlight.-   Temperature: Mean diurnal minimum temperature in January is 6° C.    (43° F.), and mean-   Fertilization: About 250 kg/ha N and 300 kg/ha K is administered per    year.-   Growth regulators: No growth regulators are used.-   Pruning or trimming requirements: No pruning or trimming applied.-   Tree:-   Age: Observed trees were 4 years old.-   Vigor: Strong-   Form: Upright, moderately dense, spreading canopy with narrow branch    angles.-   Habit: A medium-sized tree with one trunk and 4-5 main branches;    main branches spreading; crown symmetrical and round in shape.-   Branching habit: Main branches angle is 30° to 60° with respect to    trunk if allowed to grow naturally.-   Cropping behavior: Production of dry fruit starts and ends during    first 2 weeks of August in Yizre'el Valley, Israel.-   Type of bearing: Fruit set on branches mainly on distal part of    branch.-   Production per year: Fruit production depends on fruit set which    depends on prevailing weather conditions and subsequent development    of fruit.-   Size of tree:    -   -   Height.—About 3 m.        -   Spread.—About 3 m.-   Trunk:    -   -   Height.—About 80 cm.        -   Diameter.—(at 70 cm above ground) About 15 cm.-   Main branches:    -   -   Number per tree.—About 4-5.        -   Length.—Varies due to round shape of tree; maximum of about            2.5 m; minimum of about 2 m. On average, branches grow about            50 cm to 60 cm per growing season, and then new branchlets            form, radiating from the older, primary branch.        -   Diameter (at 4 years).—About 5 mm to 10 mm.        -   Pubescence.—None.-   Spur: Present.-   Foliage:-   Arrangement: Alternate.-   Lamina:    -   -   Size.—Length: About 90 mm to 100 mm Width: About 20 mm to 30            mm Length/Width ration: 0.2 to 0.33.        -   Overall shape.—Elliptic.        -   Base shape.—Acute.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Margin undulation.—None or slight.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Glabrous.        -   Under surface.—Glabrous.-   Venation:    -   -   Type.—Pinnate venation from central vein to the leaf edge.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—About 20 mm.        -   Diameter.—About 1 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Stipule: None-   Glands: None-   Flowers:-   Blooming period: Up to 10 days depending on weather conditions.-   Fragrance: None or vary slight-   Type: Flowers are born single or clustered with 2-3 per cluster on    branches and on spurs.-   Petals:    -   -   Number per flower.—Five.-   Sepals:    -   -   Number per flower.—Five.-   Fruit:-   Keeping quality: Dried fruit and nuts can be stored for over 1 year.-   Maturity when described: Ripe for eating.-   Maturity period after full bloom: Beginning of August in Yizre'el    Valley.-   Date of first and last picking (harvest): About August 1^(st) and    August 15^(th) in Newe Yaar, Israel.-   Distribution on tree: Well distributed throughout.-   Type: Drupe.-   Length (along suture): About 45 mm to 50 mm-   Width: About 30 mm to 35 mm-   Immature hull:    -   -   Pubescence.—Abundant (strong).-   Mature in-shell nut:    -   -   Overall shape.—Elongated.        -   Shape at apex.—Right angle to mucron.        -   Length.—About 37 mm to 45 mm.        -   Width.—About 24 mm to 28 mm.        -   Thickness.—About 15 mm to 20 mm.        -   Weight.—About 6.5 g to 7.5 g.        -   Thickness of endocarp.—Thin.        -   Resistance to cracking.—Weak.        -   Left over hull.—Present.        -   Keel development.—Strong.        -   Color.—Brown, closest to greyed-orange group, RHS 164C.-   Kernel:    -   -   Overall shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex shape.—Obtuse.        -   Base shape.—Truncate to rounded.        -   Size.—Large.        -   Length.—About 25 mm to 30 mm.        -   Width.—About 14 mm to 17 mm.        -   Thickness.—About 6 mm to 7 mm.        -   Weight.—About 1.6 g.        -   Rugosity.—Medium roughness.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Color.—Brownish-red, closest to greyed-orange group, RHS            164A.        -   Number of doubles.—None.-   Flavor: Sweet-   Eating quality: Excellent-   Market: Fresh market.-   Disease/pest resistance: No atypical resistance has been noted.-   Disease/pest susceptibility: No atypical resistance has been noted.-   Winter hardiness: Tolerant to temperatures down to −9° C. without    observed damage to wood and buds of dormant almond trees.-   Drought/heat tolerance.Tolerant to temperatures up to 33° C., growth    is limited by drought periods without irrigation.

1. A new and distinct almond variety of Prunus dulcis named ‘MATAN’, asillustrated and described herein.